The world of gaming handhelds has expanded far previous the confines of x86 items, as there are a lot of Android gaming handhelds to find. AYANEO is probably going one of many corporations major the easiest way on this regard. Nonetheless, it’s taking a barely completely completely different technique by releasing Android handhelds in various type elements, such as a result of the AYANEO Pocket Micro.
AYANEO makes an try and entice those who love items that invoke some sort of nostalgia, with the Pocket Micro searching for to cater to quite a lot of factions. The apparent of which is by making a handheld that pulls inspiration from the distinctive NES controller.
Nonetheless, what it’s possible you’ll not know is that the Pocket Micro’s 3.5-inch show display affords a perfect 4x scaling for Game Boy Advance games. Which is one factor that may be a little little bit of a rarity inside the home. The entire whereas, relying on Android to vitality the system, which opens the floodgates to a swath of video video games so as to choose from. And whereas all of that sounds good, it’s needed to keep up points in perspective and by no means let the wave of nostalgia tiny your glasses any higher than they already is probably.
AYANEO Pocket Micro: Worth and Availability
AYANEO launched the Pocket Micro alongside the Pocket DMG all the easiest way once more in Might with pre-orders opening in July. The Pocket Micro was the first to show into accessible, as shipments began in late September in restricted parts sooner than points picked up in October.
In the mean time, you should buy the AYANEO Pocket Micro by the Indiegogo advertising marketing campaign, with a starting worth of $189 for the 6GB/128GB model. There’s moreover an 8GB/256GB mannequin accessible for $229, and a Restricted Model “Retro Gray” variant will probably be had for $259. We rely on the Pocket Micro to shortly be made accessible on the AYANEO site sooner than it includes completely different on-line retailers.
AYANEO Pocket Micro: What I like
One factor that I’ve to pay attention to at any time when I’m all in favour of getting a model new gaming handheld is the ergonomics. I most certainly have a bit little bit of carpal tunnel, which implies that with some handhelds, I can solely play video video games for probably half-hour sooner than I’ve to take a break. It varies between handhelds and actually resulted in me investing in quite a lot of grips for my Nintendo Change.
As soon as I observed that the Pocket Micro was principally a brick, I was pretty fearful that I’d not have the flexibility to have the benefit of it. Rather a lot to my shock, that hasn’t been an extreme quantity of of an issue, and I’m unable to really seem to find out why. The flat edges paired with the flat once more and smaller dimension signifies that I end up holding it otherwise than completely different handhelds.
Consequently, the hand and wrist fatigue doesn’t actually start settling until I’m about an hour or so proper right into a gaming session. Whereas it’s from the Steam Deck OLED and even ROG Ally X, the Pocket Micro is further fulfilling to utilize than I anticipated.
| Class | AYANEO Pocket Micro |
|---|---|
| Present | 3.5-inch, IPS |
| Resolution | 960 x 640 |
| Refresh Price | 60Hz |
| Processor | MediaTek Helio G99 |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB (UFS 2.2) |
| Connectivity | microSD Card Slot / USB 2.0 Form-C / Wi-Fi 5 / Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Extras | Energetic Air Cooling / Fingerprint scanner / Hall joysticks |
| Battery | 2,600mAh |
| Dimensions | 156 x 63 x 18mm |
| Weight | 233g |
If there’s one issue attempt to take heed to, it’s that this issue is hefty. AYANEO has it listed at 233 grams, which is even heavier than my iPhone 16 Pro Max (227g), and barely lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (239g). This isn’t basically a nasty issue, significantly in the event you perceive why it’s so heavy.
That’s on account of, together with melding glass and aluminum, AYANEO packed Energetic Cooling into the Pocket Micro. It did so in an effort to keep up every the gadget and your palms, from getting too warmth. With a instrument this compact, heat dissipation is important on account of if the heat has nowhere to go, it is not going to take prolonged for throttling to start out.
Speaking of effectivity, it’s essential to temper your expectations. Not just like the AYANEO Pocket DMG and Pocket S, the Micro is powered by the MediaTek Helio G99 from 2022. I can solely assume this chip is on the helm on account of it’s cheaper, which is barely needed in the event you’re talking a few premium handheld.
Although it’s just about three years outdated, the Helio G99 has was a kind of “outdated reliable” SoC for quite a few tablets and completely different items. That being talked about, you’ll be able to play many, if not all, of your favorite video video games from the Play Retailer. Relating to emulation, you’ll start hitting the ceiling once you get into PS2 and GameCube video video games.
Part of that’s helped by AYANEO offering configurations with each 6GB or 8GB of RAM, nonetheless the software program program moreover has completely completely different effectivity profiles to help push points extra. I couldn’t help myself from on the very least making an attempt to load up some Change video video games, unsurprisingly these efforts proved to be fruitless.
AYANEO Pocket Micro: What I don’t
Undoubtedly, my largest irritation with the Pocket Micro was the software program program experience. Naturally, precise property is at a premium once you’ve bought a 3.5-inch show display to work with. Nonetheless AYANEO’s in-house launcher merely doesn’t decrease. All of the issues is super small, and whereas I’d merely regulate the present scaling settings, that’s in all probability not one factor that I want to do.
Luckily, there are gaming-focused launchers accessible, which shortly remedy my factors. Properly, on the very least for basically probably the most half. There’s nothing I can do to interchange the slide-out panel that gives you quick entry to diverse selections. Nonetheless seeing as I don’t truly mess with these often, it hasn’t been numerous an issue.
As an alternative, I’ve been bouncing between Emulation Station (ES-DE), Daijisho, and an alpha assemble of Console Launcher 2.0. If you truly wished to, it’s possible you’ll even use one factor like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair, nonetheless the place’s the pleasurable in that?
My completely different scenario with the Pocket Micro is just not one factor that everyone ought to address, however it absolutely’s one factor to remember. Whereas I commend AYANEO for offering a gaming handheld that’s every pocketable and premium, actually participating in video video games may flip into a problem.
Although the ergonomics of the Pocket Micro are a bit larger than quite a lot of the completely different gaming handhelds, I truly do need I’d play for longer than an hour at a time. Whereas I acknowledge the nostalgic design, it’d want been good to see AYANEO present some sort of ergonomic grip.
That’s what the company did with the Pocket S, as a result of the “Defending Case” not solely retains the hand-held protected nonetheless provides a further cosy experience. Attributable to that, I’ve started altering the completely completely different positions that I’m holding the Micro, merely so that I can preserve participating in. Nonetheless in the long run, the best remedy was merely to stop participating in for a bit until my palms and/or wrists felt larger.
As soon as extra, this isn’t one factor that’s going to set off factors for some, however it absolutely’s worth being aware of you in all probability have meaty paws and are considering the Micro.
AYANEO Pocket Micro: The rivals
The world of devoted Android handhelds continues to extend, and AYANEO is one agency that’s major the price. Nonetheless, it isn’t the one chance on the block, as there are pretty quite a lot of Android gaming handhelds to pick out from.
In November, the Retroid Pocket 5 was launched, which is the highly-anticipated successor to the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro from January 2024. The Pocket 5 features a 5.5-inch AMOLED present, whereas being powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage.
Then there’s the Anbernic RG406H, which moreover arrived in November, and is supplied with the Unisoc Tiger T820, along with a smaller 4-inch IPS touchscreen. Anbernic is well-known on the planet of retro handhelds, nonetheless, the company tends to focus further on Linux-based items. That being talked about, the RG406H is an absolute delight to utilize, as long as you understand that the T820 is just not basically probably the most extremely efficient chip.
If you’re looking out for a handheld from a company that you simply simply acknowledge, you then’ll most certainly want to check out the Razer Edge. This was of the first devoted Android handhelds to be launched by a mainstream agency, powered by the Snapdragon G3x Gen 1. Although Razer has however to launch a successor, the Edge stays extraordinarily versatile, and it’s repeatedly on sale for spherical $215.
AYANEO Pocket Micro: Should you buy it?
You should buy this if…
- You want an Android handheld that seems like an NES controller with a show display.
- You’re a sucker for premium items.
- You might be looking out for a way to play retro and trendy video video games on a pocketable gadget.
You shouldn’t buy this if…
- You might be on a funds.
- You’ve issues about ergonomics.
- You want a handheld that’s further extremely efficient.
Frankly, I already have my justifiable share of Android handhelds, to not level out various foldable telephones at my disposal. That being talked about, there’s merely one factor about participating in video video games on the Pocket Micro that sparks a bit bit of delight every time I resolve it up. Optimistic, it isn’t as extremely efficient as completely different items, nonetheless just a few of them deal with to pair a premium design with a retro aesthetic within the an identical strategy.
On the same time, it’s truly highly effective to advocate the Pocket Micro to anyone who is just not a retro gaming fanatic. The virtually-$200 price tag may merely be an extreme quantity of for some, significantly when further extremely efficient handhelds will probably be had for throughout the same worth. It’s truly solely a matter of considering the trade-offs when making an attempt to find out between the Pocket Micro and irrespective of else is probably in your radar.
The AYANEO Pocket Micro is meant to invoke a bit little bit of nostalgia, whether or not or not it’s for the NES or the Sport Boy Advance with its 4:3 present. Whereas the premium assemble is next-level, the Pocket Micro is probably a bit too expensive for some.
